HATCHET MAN: Villa boss O'Neill must play Gabby at Liverpool or risk letting fans win and Champions

20 March 2009 14:30
Martin O'Neill has to play Gabriel Agbonlahor at Liverpool[LNB]on Sunday.[LNB]After defending his young striker so forcefully in the wakeof the impatient and ungrateful jeers of Aston Villa[LNB]fans last weekend, themanager has to back up his words with action.[LNB] Beating the boo boys: Aston Villa star Gabriel Agbonlahor[LNB]   More from Hatchet Man... HATCHET MAN: Anorexic West Ham can't afford anything, least of all to keep on winning[LNB]20/03/09 HATCHET MAN: Here's Jonny... Well, Michael Owen actually but the Newcastle striker is just as fragile[LNB]20/03/09 HATCHET MAN: Liverpool's loss is England's gain as wise Lennon shuns Anfield to stay at Spurs[LNB]20/03/09 HATCHET MAN: Relief as Rafa pens new deal but it isn't Liverpool breathing a sigh[LNB]19/03/09 HATCHET MAN: Sir Alex's recruitment drive is bad news for Villa and Everton[LNB]19/03/09 HATCHET MAN: Boy in the hood Fabregas needs to leave Arsenal and find a manager who won't put up with his tantrums[LNB]19/03/09 HATCHET MAN: Palace look set for mid-table mediocrity so Warnock blames West Ham, Scudamore and refs[LNB]18/03/09 HATCHET MAN: Emirates spat proves Wenger and Brown are a disgrace to their profession[LNB]18/03/09 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE[LNB] There has been talk that Agbonlahor will make way for thefit-again John Carew as O'Neill seeks to revive his team's charge for aChampions League place, but this would be a short-sighted mistake.[LNB]Villa's game at Liverpoolis huge, they are running short of time and look clean out of momentum just asrivals Arsenal are getting back to full strength.[LNB]But it is precisely because of that O'Neill has to showfaith in Agbonlahor. The young striker has done so much to put Villa in theposition they are in now and they will need him in the run-in.[LNB]If he is sidelined now, even if it is for tactical reasons,it will look like the fans have won and could do serious damage to hisconfidence and their prospects for the rest of the season.[LNB] [LNB]  

Source: Daily_Mail